Baumgartner generations: Janie

was unusual. I listened to the message, not wanting to admit to myself that I was disappointed it wasn't Josh. "I have some great news. Your father has a friend who has a cabin he can't use, and well, we're thinking it would be fun to have everyone get together for a little vacation. Give me a call back!" She made kissing noises at the end of her call and said, "Love you, sweetie!" before hanging up. She always did that.

I didn't know if we could all get away, if TJ could get the time off work, and with Ronnie's pregnancy, who knew? But when I sprang out of bed and headed down the hall toward the shower, I was already wondering how I could invite Josh.

* * * *

"Beth, you were so wonderful!" Ronnie snatched her daughter up and kissed her face all over.

Beth laughed and wiggled in her arms. "Ewwww! Mom!"

"Amazing." TJ took Beth from Ronnie, swinging her around. "You have the prettiest voice I've ever heard."

"It's true," I piped up, giving Beth a smile. She beamed. Granted, her parents were biased, and maybe I was a little, too, but I thought even Simon Cowell would approve of our Beth's budding talent. The little musical show had gone off without a hitch and our star shone brightest of all. I leaned in to whisper to her, “And guess where we get to go eat to celebrate?”

“Tandoori chicken, here we come!” Beth exclaimed, making us all laugh. “I’m starving!”

TJ drove-and he still hadn’t overcome his hatred of driving in New York, so he pretty much swore the whole way, while Ronnie admonished him from the passenger’s seat and Beth and I giggled in the back.

Once we got seated and we’d ordered-I always got chicken tikka masala with a side of naan and samosa-Ronnie turned to me and asked, “Did you get a call from your mom?”

I nodded, sipping my water and retrieving Beth’s napkin from the floor, tucking it back into her lap. “Something about a cabin?”

“In the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Her eyes were bright, her voice excited. “It’s perfect timing-it will be this summer, when I’m off work. TJ’s already put in for the time off.”

I glanced over at him, seeing if he was as excited as she was about the prospect of spending a week with my family, but his face was unreadable.

“Should be fun.” I’d talked to my mother only briefly-she’d mentioned that my younger brother, Henry, would be on break from the University of Michigan and would be coming and probably bringing a girl. Of course, when I asked if I could bring someone, she got all “Oh-my-god-who-is-he?” on me and I had to make an excuse to get off the phone.

I couldn’t believe I was sitting there with Ronnie and TJ and contemplating inviting Josh… but I was. Crazy, that’s what you are, I thought, sighing as I retrieved Beth’s napkin again.

“Try not wiggling around so much, and it will stay in your lap,” I said to her and she rolled her eyes. I swear she got that from me.

“Guess who else is going to be there?” Ronnie’s eyes were practically sparkling.

“I don’t know,” I smiled. “But from the look on your face, it’s gotta be someone good. Johnny Depp? Matthew Mcconaughey?”

“Better.” Ronnie grinned, finally giving it up. “Gretchen’s coming.” I gaped at her. Gretchen had been our nanny-mine and Henry’s-after Ronnie had gone off to college and gotten married. The last I’d heard, she’d gone to school in California to be a photographer.

“She’s coming to New York,” Ronnie went on, still unable to suppress her smile.

“She’s out of school and found a job here.”

“So she lives here now?” TJ mused, looking between us. I knew what he was thinking, and so did Ronnie. Gretchen and Ronnie had been lovers, and from what I could gather, it was Gretchen who had sort of pushed them into polyamory in the first place.

“Bad.” Ronnie slapped him playfully, but she was still smiling as the waiter poured her more wine. “So, how was your date, Janie? Do you have an agent now?” She slid her gaze over to TJ. “Or maybe a new boyfriend?” I glanced at Beth, who was listening to the conversation with interest.

“It was good.” Ha, that’s an understatement, I thought, finding myself tempted to look at my phone again. I’d been checking it compulsively since Josh had dropped me off the night before, telling myself he was a busy man, he had work to do…

But why hadn’t he called?

“Just good?" Ronnie inquired, raising her eyebrows. "No spark? No fireworks?”

“Um…" I looked back and forth between them, feeling my face redden. "A little.” TJ leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady, but he was frowning. “Did you talk about your writing?”

“Actually, no," I admitted. I honestly hadn't even thought about Josh in relation to my work all night long. I wondered if he had?

“Well, what did you talk about?” Ronnie asked.

"I have to go to the bathroom!" Beth piped up, plopping her napkin in the middle of her plate and hopping off her chair.

Thank god! I grabbed Beth's hand. "I'll take her."